ESMO Congress 2026

The PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab already has solid phase 3 evidence across multiple tumor types: in previously treated nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer versus docetaxel, median overall survival was 12.2 vs 9.4 months (HR 0.73)^[1]; in previously treated squamous NSCLC, 9.2 vs 6.0 months (HR 0.59)^[2]; in previously treated advanced renal-cell carcinoma versus everolimus, 25.0 vs 19.6 months (HR 0.73)^[4]; in previously untreated metastatic melanoma without BRAF mutation, 1-year overall survival was 72.9% vs 42.1%^[5]; and in recurrent squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck after platinum therapy, 7.5 vs 5.1 months^[6]. The phase 3 foundation of the ipilimumab plus nivolumab double checkpoint blockade lies in previously untreated metastatic melanoma: median progression-free survival was 11.5 months with the combination versus 2.9 months with ipilimumab alone (HR 0.42)^[3].

At ESMO26, the #OncoSTEPS posts cover two items. The main line is the MSI-H/dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer population: final data (dati finali) from CheckMate 8HW on the ipi + nivo doublet have arrived, with Chiara Cremolini, ambassador for gastrointestinal cancers, commenting on the data from Madrid. The other item is Dato-DXd in triple-negative breast cancer patients with brain metastases who are not candidates for immunotherapy, discussed by Armando Orlandi in Madrid. Both posts are expert commentaries and disclose no specific efficacy or safety figures.

Relative to existing knowledge, the final CheckMate 8HW data extend the evidence for the nivo + ipi combination from melanoma ^[3] to a biomarker-selected gastrointestinal population (MSI-H/dMMR), and the presentation of final data reflects an update in data maturity; nivolumab monotherapy's phase 3 benefit in lung cancer ^[1][2], renal cancer ^[4], melanoma ^[5], and head-and-neck squamous carcinoma ^[6] underpins its cross-tumor position. The Dato-DXd post points to a specific population—triple-negative breast cancer with brain metastases and unsuitability for immunotherapy—representing an ADC exploration in a special population, with no numbers given in the post, precluding quantitative comparison with prior evidence.

The limitation is that both posts are social-media commentaries without any accompanying efficacy or safety data; the specific endpoint results of the final CheckMate 8HW data and the efficacy information for Dato-DXd in this brain-metastasis population remain to be confirmed pending formal presentations, and this article does not constitute investment advice.